"Trentham was originally a “canvas camp” consisting only of bell tents to accommodate the recruits. These tents were gradually replaced over the course of 1915 as long wooden hutments were built, each of which barracked around 100 men. Other administrative, service, and recreational buildings also began to be put up, along with roads and drainage systems. By July of that year the still only partly built camp had a population of 8000. Overcrowding and inadequate sanitary arrangements led to an outbreak of measles and meningitis that caused several deaths and created a national scandal.  The subsequent commission of enquiry led to hygiene improvements and the creation of satellite camps to cope with overflows in troop numbers. The population of Trentham camp was also restricted to 5000 men." (Upper Hutt Library)